Veep Sheet: Shooting responses

As we reported yesterday, veep watchers with high hopes for Romney’s New Hampshire visit today will most likely be disappointed. Per the Union Leader, Romney will appear at a lumber wholesaler with longer-shot choice Kelly Ayotte, but unless he’s planning to pick the New Hampshire senator for the VP slot, an announcement probably isn’t happening today.

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And without further ado, here’s what the most-talked-about VP contenders are up to. If you know something we should know, be in touch: kglueck@politico.com.

UPDATE: In the wake of last night’s deadly shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., vice presidential contender Rob Portman tweets:

“@robportman: The families & friends of those whose lives were cut short in CO are in our prayers this morn, as are those injured & a community grieving”

Sen. Marco Rubio also weighs in on Twitter:

“@marcorubio: What terrible news from #Colorado this morning.Praying that God provides comfort to the victims & families and healing to the survivors.”

“I have been consistent in my conversations with you and I think I was consistent yesterday” during the radio interview “in terms of the fact that I feel fortunate to be here in the United States Senate representing Ohio,” Portman said. “We’re working hard for Ohio; I continue to do that. We’re working on legislation. We’re engaged in helping our constituents. I’ll be touring some Ohio businesses tomorrow that I look forward to. So nothing’s changed. I’m doing the work of our state and happy to be doing it.”

SCALE BACK SPENDING: Portman pens an op-ed for National Review’s The Corner blog.

A “DOUBLE SCOOP OF VANILLA”? USA Today explores whether a Romney-Portman or Romney-Pawlenty ticket would be “doubly bland or doubly competent.” On Portman:

“There’s little question that the Republican presidential nominee and Ohio senator have a lot in common. But whether a Romney-Portman ticket would double down on the stiff, rich, aloof image Romney is already battling — or the smart, clean, competent message he’s trying to project — remains uncertain.

…Both are button-down policy wonks who love to talk about the economy. Both are wealthy. Both have picture-perfect families and straight-laced personas. Both have Midwestern family roots, but are also steeped in East Coast culture.

“They’re both very capable, both very bright, both very decent and I think they’d be very compatible,” said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who is a liaison to Congress for the Romney campaign and has served with Portman in the House and the Senate.”

Tim Pawlenty

‘DEFENDER-IN-CHIEF?’ The former Republican presidential hopeful has been a visible presence on political shows this week. CBS News suggests that Pawlenty is coming across as “defender-in-chief” of the Romneys after the ex-Minnesota governor, in an interview with ABC’s Jon Karl, slammed the DNC for poking fun at Ann Romney’s horse via Web video. That’s a subject that’s now off-limits, the DNC later said.